Ski Reviews
2020-2021 Elan Ripstick 96, 172 cm
Reviewer Username: Christopher Newman
Reviewer Height: 5’9″
Reviewer Weight: 140 lbs
Reviewer Experience Level: Advanced
DAYS USED: 75 days
TEST LOCATIONS: Winter Park, Steamboat
TEST TERRAIN: Firm groomers | Softer groomers | Firm moguls | Softer moguls | Low-angle, off-piste terrain | Fairly steep off-piste terrain | Trees
TEST CONDITIONS: Extremely firm hardpack or ice | Pretty firm snow | Softer, but not deep snow | Untracked powder (shallow) | Untracked powder (deep) | Soft chop / pretty forgiving cut-up snow | Firm, off-piste chop or crud
PERFORMANCE RATINGS
(0 = Terrible, 5 = Okay, 10 = Outstanding)
OVERALL IMPRESSION: 8/10
FORGIVENESS: 8/10
MANEUVERABILITY (How Loose / Easy to Pivot & Smear?): 7/10
MANEUVERABILITY (How Quick / Low is the Swing Weight?): 9/10
STABILITY: 6/10
SUSPENSION: 6/10
EDGE HOLD: 7/10
PLAYFULNESS: 6/10
PLAYFULNESS (Open Ended):
This ski is very playful at low speed. As you ramp up the speed it becomes more directional and less playful. The low swing weight makes it easy to slash, you can absolutely put it on edge, but also just smear your way down the mountain
SKI LENGTH: It felt just right (172 cm length tested)
THIS SKI’S IDEAL TERRAIN: Softer groomers | Firm moguls | Softer moguls | Low-angle, off-piste terrain | Fairly steep off-piste terrain | Trees
THIS SKI’S IDEAL SNOW CONDITIONS: Pretty firm snow | Softer, but not deep snow | Untracked powder (shallow) | Soft chop / pretty forgiving cut-up snow
WHAT TYPE(S) OF SKIER DO YOU IMAGINE WILL GET ALONG BEST WITH THIS SKI?
This is a great ski for parents. You can focus on your kid and it will forgive your sloppiness. It pivots on a dime (like most 8year olds), is easy to ski at slow speeds but you can lay it over and charge after someone if you need to. It isn’t great in deep snow or really firm crud. I ski it on the short side, which exaggerates all the above.
ARE THERE SIMILAR PRODUCTS YOU’VE SKIED THAT YOU CLEARLY PREFER? IF SO, WHY?
If I were bigger or more of a hard charger, I would pick the 106 instead. If I wanted a bit more stability at speed, would choose the rustler 9 or 10
PLEASE ELABORATE ON ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO SAY ABOUT THIS SKI. FEEL FREE TO GO INTO DETAIL!
This ski helped me go from intermediate to advanced (per blister definition). If I got into terrain that was above my ability, I could just poke my way down. But as I got more comfortable, the ski rewarded my improved technique. I mounted shifts and use these for in resort uphill when the lift lines get long or I only have time for an early lap. I wouldn’t tour in them, but they work great for uphill on groomed terrain.